1967 Columbian 22' Cuddy Restoration

[lucid484]

Ok I had pictures everywhere of my restoration...So i decided to do as a few others and make one continually updating thread.

The back story is that my buddy got it from a guy for $2500.It was on a good trailer and the engine started right up.He had one day with it and worked ok except the steering cable was messing up.He replaced that and did a little rewiring.Next trip with his kids the engine started sputtering...so he took it to a local dealer and said the wrong electrical was on the engine.Paid $700 to fix it and said it was great.Took it out with his kids again and engine started getting nasty and just died.So being all frustrated decided to sell it and buy another boat from a friend.

He offered it to me for $1250 which i thought was agreat deal...but at the time didnt have the cash on me..a few months later and no sells he offered me $750 for it..I hummed and hawed and he said **** just take the damn boat,i need to clear a spot for my new one!

so hauled it to a famly members house so i can start working on the engine problem...the resulting mess is what I found!!!!

Me with the powerhead in my basement tearign it down to see whats wrong.



Found out whats wrong =( time for either a new Evinrude E-tec 150 or rebuilt powerhead.



Here a few different angled shots of the boat...Look at those gorgeous lines.They sure don't style them like that anymore and I can't see her getting chopped up at the dump.

[lucid484]

Look at that transom...those angles and splash well sure are gonna be fun to rebuild.



Ug I was right =(



Tearing the carpeting up.



WTF great stuff and wet foam everywhere!



My son on the left and his cousin..eager helpers!

[lucid484]

Getting there!



Got the entire deck ripped out and all the foam out! YAY 12 garbage bags later......

[lucid484]

this week either I plan on taking the windshield and bow rail off.Then all the hardware should be completely removed minus the 1000 snaps for the old cover.I got all the wiring and guages ripped out last week.

and as soon as I go buy myself a grinder and mask I can start cutting out the transom and stringers!

[lucid484]

How do I make my pictures clickable to full size?? its just showing them small right now =(

nevermind I figured it out!

[lucid484]

Does anyone know it a grinder with a sanding disc would be good for removing all the old carpet glue off the gunwales?

[zach103]

ive never heard of a columbian before

[Zeeter]

That boat does have great lines. Itll be a gem when done.

[lucid484]

This page right here is the only info I can find on columbian boats...Wish I could dig up more about them.

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/m...il.aspx?id=CFG

[zach103]

lucid where r u from.. the guy who built them his son runs Suburban marine in meriden.. nice guy.. i got info on my pc somewere ill find it

[lucid484]

Im in western,MA not far from meriden.The info said it was part of lancer yachts and went out of business in 1992.

[zach103]

The boat is a Columbian Celebrity 14' It is actually 15.2 center line. It was built in Waterbury CT. and sold by Walter
Hatch out of Meridan CT. They made a 16' a 21' I/o. and an 18' Tri-Hull.

The boat is rated for 85hp. I had a 115hp on one of mine.

When they first came out, mid 60's they were solid fiber
glass not lapstrake.

thats what i was told about mine..

[lucid484]

Got back to the boat today.

Managed to get the bow rail off...was a PITA since there were many different types of screwes in the bases and half of them were rusted....Ended up snapping a titanium bit in half trying to drill the last screw out.

I also got the aluminum trim off on the splashwell and found that the splashwell is just tabbed into the transom.not 1 piece like I suspected....so that means I can just cut the seam and the transom will be much much easier to replace.



just an FYI but a dremel with a fiberglass disc cuts through resin/fiberglass like butter!!! tested i on the splashwell seam but stopped because I need to get a mask before going any farther.

[jonesg]

Put a DeWalt diamond steel disk on a 4 inch grinder if you want to see glass disappear.

splashwell is easy to remove, did that on mine, makes the job much simpler.
If you go with the bigger engine make sure the transom is 1 1/2" thick.
I increased mine to almost 3 inches.

[lucid484]

i think i'm gonna stick with 150hp whether I attempt to rebuild this block or buy a new E-tec. The guy who had it before the motor blew said it was plenty fast. And I'm more about slow econimical crusing than gunning it anyway.

And since I'm building the boat my way..i'll prolly make the transom as thick as I can while being able to mount the motor.

the only concern I saw while removing the trim was on teh outide of teh transom where it stick out is that theres cracking all along it...If I rebuild it right from the inside and just grind it out and refill the crack...should it be ok?